Marathon County Deputy Cleared In Fatal Rib Mountain Shooting

A Marathon County deputy has been cleared in a fatal shooting in the town of Rib Mountain, south of Wausau, in the early morning hours of March 2.

Marathon County District Attorney Theresa Wetzsteon found deputy Brandon Stroik was justified in the fatal shooting of 33-year-old John Hall, who was high on methamphetamine, and pointing a rifle and a handgun at a hostage and law enforcement, according to Wetzsteon’s ruling released Friday.

Hall was sitting on the floorboard of his parked truck when law enforcement arrived. The door was open, and he was pointing the handgun at a male acquaintance who was standing outside with his hands in the air, according to the report.

The standoff lasted two and a half hours, and deputies asked Hall at least 12 times to drop the gun, according to the report. Hall became increasingly agitated, stepped out of his truck and was waving both weapons at officers when he was felled by a single shot to the head, the report states.

Stroik acted to protect his fellow officers and the hostage, according to the report.

Toxicology tests found high levels of methamphetamine in Hall’s system.

Stroik is a trained sniper and a member of the sheriff office’s SWAT team. He was a squad designated marksman when he served in the U.S. Army Infantry from 2004-08.

The district attorney’s report concluded “all the officers who responded to this incident acted with great restraint, demonstrating respect for the life of the civilian hostage and Hall.”

Editor’s Note: This story was last updated at 2:26 p.m. Friday, May 19, to include additional reporting by WPR.